Vacuum tank



July 16, 1929. w. R. HENDRlcKs l,721?272 VACUUM TANK Filed March 12, 1928 Patented July 15, 1929.

MZLZEZ WILLIAM R. HENDRICKS, OF DANVILLE, ILLINS.

VACUUM TANK.

Application iled. March 12, 1928. Serial No. 261,044.

This invention relates to vacuum tanks for supplyingfuel from the main storage tanks of motor vehicles to the carbureters of the engines.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is extremely simple inconstruction thus rendering the operation of the device accurate Vand positive.

A further object is y'to provide a vacuum tank the simplicity in construction of which renders t-he device easily and cheaply manufactured.

A further object is to provide a vacuum tank which employs a very small number of working parts thus minimizing the danger of such derangement of the parts as would render the device inoperative.

A further object is to provide a novel vacuum tank structure employinga snap-over falve control means operated by a suitable float, at least one of the valves associated with such means being carried by one of the elements thereof to simplifyvthe construction by theelimination of relatively movable parts.

Afurther object is to simplify'the valve means of the tank by eliminating' the necessity of providing guide means for the valves.

A further object is to provide novel valve means which is extremely simple in construction and adapted to be operated to: cause the valves to seat accurately.

A further object is to provide a novel heat assembly and associated elements.

Other objects and advantages of the inven-y tion will become apparent during the course of the following` description.

ln the drawings have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view, parts being shown in elevation,

'Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 15 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary'vertical sectional view of a portion of the head of th'e tank, and,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the vacuum controlling valve and associated ele-A ments. l

.lreferringr to the drawings the numer ,l designates a. preferably cylindrical tank as a whole divided by a partition 11 to form aI vacuum chamber 12 and an outlet chamber 13. A ring` 14 is secured within the tank and may be provided with a gasket 15 upon which the partition 11 is preferably removper end of the compartment 13. This pipe preferably is secured flat againstthe body of the tank and has its upper end arranged substantially flush with the top of the tank and open to the atmosphere to vent the compartment 13,

One of the difficulties encountered in the present types of vacuum tanksis in the flow of fuel from the upper to the lower compartments, the valves Ausually provided for this purpose sometimes sticking and otherwise functioningimperfectly. Even under favorable conditions, the fiow of fuel fr om the upper tank to the lower one sometimes takes place too slowly. In the present construction, a gravity controlled valve or valves is employed to permit free and rapid flow of fuel to the lower compartment. Referring to Figure 1 the numeral 19 designates a pair of relatively large preferably circular openings formed in the partition 11 and adapted to be closed by valves 20. rThese valves are of the disk type and seat .flat against the bottom of the partition. Each valve is carried by an arm 21 pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the bracket 22 carried by the partition. A counters weight 23'is mounted in the free end of each arm 21 and substantially balances the arm. As will become apparent, a depression within the upper compartment is adapted to seat the valves l20, while the weight ifthe liquid in the upper compartment opens the valves to permit theflow of fuel into the bott-om compartment when the upper tank is vented to the atmosphere. It will be apparent that the openings 19 may be of considerable size to permit the free flow of fuel, and that only one opening and its associated valve need be employed.

A head 24 is preferably threaded into the upper end vof the'tank 10, as indicated at 25. A tubular guide 26 is mounted axially within the Vupper compartment 12. A plug 27 is driven into or otherwise secured withinlthe lower end ofthe guide 26 and is provided at its lower end with an axial extension 28 adapted to be received in an opening 29 formed in the partition 11 centrally thereof. For the purpose of facilitating the insertion of the projection 26 in the opening 29, it is preferably somewhat elongated as shown in Figure 1.

The head 24 is provided at its upper end with an axial opening 30 in which the upper end of the guide 26 is arranged, the lat-terY element being slightly belled as at 31. The opening 30 obviously is similarly shaped and the guide 26 is inserted into this opening from the upper end thereof. A relatively large opening 32 is formed in the head above the opening 30 and is preferably internally threaded to receive `a union' 33, connected at its upper end to a fuel supply pipe 34. When the union is in position, as indicated in Figure 1, the lower end thereof seats against the guide 26 to retain it in position.

The member 26 serves not only as a guide, in a manner to be described, but also as an inlet pipe through which fuel is supplied vto the compartment 12 from the pipe 34. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the guide 26 is provided with an opening 35 through which fuel is adapted to flow into the upper compartment, this opening being covered and uncovered in a manner to be described.

The head 24 is provided to one side thereof with a port 36 to the upper end of which is connected a union 37. This union is connected in turn to one end of a vacuum pipe 38, the opposite end of which is tapped into the intake manifold of the engine, or any other suitable point to create a partial vacuum in the compartment l2, under certain conditions.

Similarly, the head 24 is provided adjacent its opposite side with a port 39, which may be connected by va union 4() to a vent pipe 41 having its upper end turned downwardly, as shown in Figure 1, to assist in excluding dust and other foreign matter from the compartment 12. As will be apparent, the ports 36 and 39 are adapted to be alternately covered ,and uncovered to effect the movement of fuel into the compartment 12, and to vent the latter to permit the fuel to flow downwardly into the compartment 13. The port 39 is preferably fairly large to permit the venting action totake place relatively rapidly.

Means is provided `for effecting the alternate opening` and closing of the ports 36 and 39. An arm 42 is pivotally connected intermediate itsy ends to a bracket 43 carried by the head 24 as shown in Figure 1. The opposite end of this arm carries a valve 44 preferably in the form of a disk soldered to the extremity of the arm. A similar varm 45 is mounted in the opposite side of the compartment 12 and is pivotally connected to-a. bracket 46 also carried by the head 24. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the arm 45 is provided outwardly of its pivot point with an overhanging projection 47. The inner ends of the arms 42 and 45 are forked as at 48 for a purpose to be described.

A valve 49, preferably in the form of a disk, is adapted to close the port 36. This valve is preferably soldered or similarly secured to an arm 50 pivotally connected in termediate its ends to an extension 51 preferably forming a. part of the bracket 46. The lfree end of the arm 50` is arranged beneath the overhanging extension 47, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The outer ends of the arms 42 and 45 are provided with oppositely extending arms 52 having hooked outer ends 53, as shown in Figure 4. A spring 55 is arranged to each side of the arms and is connected to the ady jacent hooks 53.

AA sleeve 56 surrounds the guide 26, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and is provided at its upper end with a pair of annular flanges 57 forming an annular groove 58 in which the forked inner ends 48 of the arms 42 and 45 are arranged. The sleeve 56 is vertically slidable and the upper end thereof acts as a valve to open and close the port 35 in the guide 26. The sleeve 56 is provided adjacent its lower end with an annular pro jection 59, for a purpose to be described.

A float 6() is arranged within the compartment 12l and includes a central sleeve 61 slid able upon the sleeve 56. The bottom of the float is adapted to contact with the annular projection 59 while the. upper end of the sleeve 61 is adapted to contact with the lower annular flange 57.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As previously stated, the valves 44 and 49 are preferably soldered to the arms by which they are respectively carried. The outer ends of the arms referred to are shaped to lit flat against the lower faces of the valves 44 and 49. Then the device is assembled., the various arms and associated parts, vwith the exception of the valves, are assembled with respect to the head 24. The adjacent faces of the valves and the head 24 are preferably ground to permit the: valves to seat firmly. One of the valves, such as the valve 44, is seated tightly against the bottom of the head 24, covering the opening 39. Vith the valve held in such position, the adjacent end of the arm 42 is moved into firm co'ntact with the valve 44, and is then soldered or similarly connected thereto. The same procedure takes place with respect to the valve 44 and arm 50, and accordingly it will be apparent that these valves will be mounted accurately in operative position with respect to the arms by which they are carried, Thus when the spring mechanism operates, the

valves are adapted to seat snugly against the lower face of the head 24 to provide effectual leak-proof closures for the ports 36 and 39.

Assuming that fuel is present in the compartment 12, and the float is in the position shown in Figure 1, the compartment 12 will be open to the atmosphere through port 39 and pipe 41, the valve 44 being in open position. Thus the fuel will flow downwardly into the lower compartment 13 through openings 19, the lweight of the fuel unseating the valves 20. During this time, the float 60 obviously will be moving downwardly. Y

l/Vhen the float contacts with the annular projection 59, it will start to move the sleeve 56 downwardly along the guide 26, this action continuing until the inner ends of the arms 42 and` 45 have moved downwardly and the outer ends of the arms upwardly to a point where the springs pass the pivots of the arms. The latter then snap over to the reverse positions, the valve 44 closing while the valve 49 opens. In connection with the latter, it will be apparent that upward movement of the outer end of the arm 45 moves the inner end of the arm 50 upwardly, thus unseating the valve 49. Under the conditions just referred to, the compartment 12 will be' closed to the atmosphere and opened to the source of suction, thus creating depression within thefcompartment 12. The downward movement of the sleeve 56 in the manner referred to will have uncovered the opening' 35, and the drop in pressure within `the compartment 12 causes the atmospheric pressure within the fuel tank to force the fuel into the compartment 12 through pipe 34, guide 26 and opening 35.

As the fuel continues to flow into the compartment 12. the float 60 willrise until the upper end of the sleeve 56 contacts with the lower iiange 57, whereupon further upward movement 'of the float will again snap over the valves to disconnect the compartment 12 from the source of suction and open it to the atmosphere. Upward movement of the sleeve 56 in the manner referred to causes the openings 35 to be covered, as shown in Figure 1, and hence the pipe 34 will be disconnected from the compartment 12 and the fuel will be held in the .pipe 34 ready to be immediately discharged into the compartment 12 when the valves again reverse their posit-ion.

l/Vith the structure referred to, greater capacity may be provided in the upper compartment 12, due to the compact arrangement of the valves and associated elements, and consequently a greater quantity of fuel will be drawn into the compartment 12 at each, operation of the device. Thus, in a tank of given size, less operations of the moving parts will take place in order to transfer a given quantity of fuel from the supply tank to the carbureter, and wear on the parts will take place very slowly. The valves seat accurately against'their associated ports, thus eliminating leakage and` insuring proper operation of the device. It also will be noted that the device eliminates the use'of needle, poppet and similar valves which-have been found'to be very liable to derangement, and which usually are looselyA mounted and vguided in the openings with which they are associated.

It also will be appa-rent that the device contemplates the use of a minimum number of moving parts, the valve 44, for example, forming in effect an integral part ofthe arm 42. This simplicity and the use of a minimum number of parts also insures more accurate operation together with minimum wear on the parts. f

The entire operating mechanism readily may be removed by unscrewing the head 24, this element carrying all of the valve mechanism and the guide 26. The provision of the large valve openings 19 permits the upper compartment to be rapidly emptied, thus c of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim f 1. A device of the character described comprising a tank, a partition in said tank dividing it into upper and lower compartments, a head closing the top of said upper compartment, said head being provided with a vent opening and a suction opening eX- tending through the bottom thereof, `means `for supplying fuel to saidupper compartment, a check valve' controlling communicat-ion between said compartments, a float mounted in said upper compartment, a pair of disk valves adapted to seat against the bottom of said head to close said openings, a pivoted arm to which one of :said disk valves is connected, and means including a swinging arm actuated by said fioat for alternately opening Aand closing said valves, said swinging arm being provided with a portion adapted to engage said pivoted arm.

2. A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means include-s a second swinging arm, the other of said disk valves being secured to said second swinging arm.

3. A ydevice of the character described icomprising a tank, a partition in :said tank vother arm and adapted to close the other of said openings, and meansfor supplying fuel toy said upper compartment.

4. A device constructed in accordance with claim 3 provided with a valve carryingv member pivotally supported intermediate its ends and secured at one end to said second named valve, the opposite end of said member being adapted to be actuated by said second named swinging arm.

5. A device of the character' described comprising a tank divided to form upper and lower compartments, means for controlling communication between `said compartments, a head closing the top of said upper compartment and provided with a vent opening and a suction opening, ay pair of swinging arms pivotally supported intermediate their ends and arranged substantially in the same vertical plane, tension spring means connecting the outer ends of said arms, a valve rigidly connected to one of said arms and adapted to swing therewith to close one of said open ings, a valve carrying member pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said head and loosely connected at one end to the other of said arms, a valve rigidly connected to the oposite end of said member, a float arranged in said upper compartment, and means for transmitting movement from said float to said arms.

6. A device constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for, transmitting movement from said float to said arms comprises a vertically movable member having.

Y of swinging arms arranged substantially in the same vertical plane and pivotally supported intermediate their ends on opposite sides of the center of said upper compartment, tension springs connecting the outer ends of said arms, a valve rigidly secured to the outer end of one of said arms and adapted to seat against the bottom of said head to close one of said openings, a valve carrying member pivotally connectedto said head intermediate its ends, a valve carried by one end of said member and adapted to sea-t againstthe bottom of said head to close the other of said openings, the other of said arms being provided with an oveihanging projection beneath which the opposite end of said member is aranged, a float arranged in said upper compartment, and vertically movable means for transmitting movement of said float to the inner ends of said arms.

8. A device constructed in accordance with claim 7 provided with a central guide member, said vertically movable means comprising a tubular member surrounding said guide member and provided with projecting portions adjacent opposite ends adapted to be engaged by said float.

9. A device constructed in accordance with claim 7 provided with a fuel inlet port, and means operative by said valve for closing said port when said vent opening is open.

l0. A device constructed in accordance with claim 7 provided with a central tubular guide member having a port in the upper end thereof, said vertically movable means comprising a tubular member surrounding said guide member and provided with projecting portions adjacent opposite ends adapted to be engaged by said float, said second named tubular member being adapted to close saidA port when the valve of said vent opening is in open position, and a pipe for supplying fuel to said guide member.

1l.4 A device of the character described comprising a tank, a partition dividing said tank into upper and lower compartments, said partition being provided with a central opening, check valve means controlling communication between said compartments, a head closing the upper end of said upper compartment and provided with a vent opening and a suction opening, valves for said openings, means for alternately opening and closing said valves, means for supplying fuel to said upper compartment, a central guide carried at its upper end byvsaid head and having its lower end adapted to seat upon said partition, a projecting stem carried by said guide and arranged in the opening in said partition, a vertically movable sleeve surrounding said guide and connected to the means for opening and closing said valves, and a float surrounding said sleeve and adapted to contact with portions thereof to move it vertically. v

l2. A device of the character described, comprising a tank including upper and lower compartments, said upper compartment having a Vent opening and a suction opening, means for supplying fuel to the upper oom partment, a check valve controlling communication between Said compartments, a float mounted within said upper compartment, a pair of valves adapted to close the vent opening and suction opening, an arm pivotally supported between its ends and carrying one of the pairs of valves, a pair of arms pivotally Supported between their ende, one of said pair of arms carrying the other of the pair of Valves and the other of the pair of arms being arranged to actuate the first named p-voted arm, said pair of arme being actuated by the float.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

WILLIAM R. HENDRICKS. 

